In a country famous for its success in international beauty pageants, three young women are fighting to participate in their nation's most celebrated cultural institution: But obtaining a place in the Miss Venezuela contest is no easy task: Women must endure grueling diets, consent to intensive plastic surgery, and find the resources necessary to transform themselves from ordinary citizens into famous and illustrious Misses: To Be a Miss is a character:driven documentary that takes the viewer through the inner workings of Venezuela's renowned beauty factory, revealing the risks and rewards associated with this multi:billion dollar industry while exposing what nationalism, personal ambition, and the influence of mass media has meant for women in the country: